The sole pathway through which European automakers could maintain technological competitiveness
En Madrid, la industria del automóvil y el sector energético se reunieron para reafirmar un pacto que va más allá de los negocios: la apuesta por un modelo de movilidad que Europa considera inevitable. Las ventas de vehículos eléctricos en España crecieron un 76% en 2025, superando las 100.000 unidades, pero el verdadero desafío no es convencer al mercado, sino convencer a la burocracia. La alianza entre Anfac e Iberdrola es, en el fondo, una declaración de que el sector privado está listo para avanzar, y una pregunta implícita dirigida al poder público: ¿lo está también el Estado?
- Las ventas de coches eléctricos en España se dispararon un 76% en 2025, cruzando por primera vez la barrera de las 100.000 unidades y demostrando que la demanda ya no es una promesa, sino una realidad.
- La infraestructura de recarga pública sigue siendo el eslabón débil: la capacidad inversora existe, pero los permisos administrativos se han convertido en un cuello de botella que frena el despliegue real.
- Anfac e Iberdrola renovaron públicamente su alianza en la sede madrileña de la energética, enviando una señal deliberada a los legisladores de que el sector privado no espera permiso para comprometerse.
- España aún registra tasas de penetración del vehículo eléctrico por debajo de las principales economías europeas, lo que convierte la agilización regulatoria en una urgencia competitiva, no solo climática.
El pasado viernes, los principales fabricantes de automóviles de España se reunieron en la sede madrileña de Iberdrola para renovar un compromiso que cumplía exactamente un año: acelerar la electrificación del transporte, ampliar la red de recarga pública y presionar por políticas de incentivos alineadas con los objetivos climáticos europeos. Josep María Recasens, presidente de Anfac, y Mario Ruíz Tagle, consejero delegado de Iberdrola España, encabezaron un encuentro que quiso ser tanto una celebración de avances como una advertencia sobre los obstáculos que persisten.
Los datos respaldan el optimismo con cautela. En el foro anual de Anfac celebrado el día anterior, Recasens subrayó que el vehículo eléctrico es la única vía para que la industria europea mantenga su competitividad tecnológica e industrial. Las cifras de 2025 le dan la razón en parte: las ventas de eléctricos crecieron un 76%, superando las 100.000 unidades, y la electrificación parcial —híbridos y enchufables— también avanza con fuerza entre los consumidores.
Sin embargo, David Martínez, consejero delegado de Iberdrola Energía España, puso el dedo en la llaga: el capital y la tecnología para expandir la red de recarga están disponibles, pero los procesos de autorización administrativa se han convertido en un freno real. La regulación, dijo, va por detrás del mercado. España sigue rezagada respecto a otras grandes economías europeas en penetración del eléctrico, y cerrar esa brecha exige no solo inversión privada sostenida, sino también que la Administración elimine la fricción burocrática que ralentiza el despliegue. La pregunta que quedó flotando en el aire al término de la jornada fue si Madrid responderá con la misma velocidad que el mercado.
Spain's automotive manufacturers gathered Friday at Iberdrola's Madrid headquarters to signal their unified push toward electric vehicles, a sector bet that has begun to show real momentum. The Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Automóviles y Camiones (Anfac), the country's main auto industry association, convened its board and assembly at the energy company's offices, where Mario Ruíz Tagle, Iberdrola España's chief executive, welcomed Josep María Recasens, Anfac's president, along with the association's director general José López-Tafall and board members representing Spain's largest automakers and automotive groups.
The meeting marked a continuation of an alliance struck exactly one year earlier between the two organizations. That partnership was built on a straightforward premise: accelerate electric vehicle adoption across Spain by pushing harder on sales, build out the public charging network that currently lags behind demand, and lobby for government policies and incentives that align with Europe's climate targets and Spain's own National Energy and Climate Plan. The stakes are high enough that both sides have kept the commitment visible and active.
The numbers suggest the strategy is working. At Anfac's sixth annual forum just the day before, Recasens described the electric vehicle as the sole pathway through which European automakers could maintain technological and industrial competitiveness over the coming decade. He pointed to concrete evidence: electric vehicle sales in Spain jumped 76 percent in 2025, a surge that pushed total deliveries past 100,000 units for the year. When you add in partially electrified vehicles—hybrids and plug-in hybrids—the growth enters double digits, a sign that consumers are beginning to shift away from traditional combustion engines.
Yet the infrastructure gap remains a serious constraint. David Martínez, chief executive of Iberdrola Energía España, made clear that the company has the capital, the technology, and the operational capacity to expand charging networks. What it lacks is regulatory clarity. Permitting for new charging stations has become a bottleneck, he said, slowing the rollout of connectivity across the grid. Martínez called for regulations that match actual demand rather than lag behind it, a pointed way of saying that bureaucratic processes are moving slower than the market itself.
The broader challenge is one of scale and parity. Spain's electric vehicle penetration rate still trails that of other major European economies. To close that gap, both the auto industry and the energy sector need to sustain investment while government removes the administrative friction that slows deployment. Recasens and his counterparts at Iberdrola are betting that Friday's public reaffirmation of commitment—held at a major energy company's headquarters, no less—sends a signal to policymakers that the private sector is ready to move. What remains to be seen is whether Madrid will move as fast.
Notable Quotes
The electric vehicle is the sole vector capable of driving the technological and industrial competitiveness of European automaking in this decade— Josep María Recasens, Anfac president
We have investment capacity, technology, and execution capability. We must continue reducing fuel dependence to raise electric car penetration rates and reach the levels of our European peers— David Martínez, Iberdrola Energía España CEO
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does it matter that they held this meeting at Iberdrola's offices rather than, say, a neutral venue or Anfac's own space?
Because it's a statement. Iberdrola is one of Spain's largest energy companies. By hosting the auto industry there, they're saying the energy and automotive sectors are now aligned on the same project. It's harder to ignore when the energy company is literally the venue.
The 76 percent growth sounds impressive. But is that actually a lot in European terms?
It's a start, but Recasens himself implied it's not enough—he said Spain still lags behind other European countries in EV penetration. So yes, 76 percent growth is real momentum, but the baseline was lower to begin with.
What's the actual bottleneck with charging stations? Is it money or red tape?
Martínez was pretty explicit: it's permitting. They have the money and the technology. What's slowing them down is the process of getting approval to install chargers. Each station requires permits, and that process is apparently moving slower than demand.
So what does Anfac actually want from the government?
Policies and incentives that match Europe's climate targets. More specifically, they want regulations that don't lag behind market demand. Right now the market is moving faster than the permitting system can handle.
Is there any tension between the auto industry and Iberdrola, or are they genuinely aligned?
The fact that they renewed their alliance after a year and are publicly reaffirming it suggests genuine alignment. Both benefit from faster EV adoption—automakers sell more cars, Iberdrola sells more electricity and builds more infrastructure. But the real test is whether they can push government to move faster.